Kier Keith Stele AP English Language and Composition March 8, 2023 Gatsby’s and America’s Dream The American dream is an idea perceived as an ideal society for humanity as a whole which has become increasingly falsified with time. Whether it is through racial violence, economic disparity, or living better off as a human, these factors describe the American ideals as impossible. This inflated view of the American dream has led to a definite destruction economically or socially of people who place too much faith in the American Dream. Fitzgerald's vision of the American ideals in the Great Gatsby is similar to today's ideals of the American dream. Fitzgerald exposes the dark side of The American Dream; however, people still believe that money …show more content…
Gatsby was once poor, and later in his life, he earned a large amount of money through illegal businesses to earn the love of Daisy, whom he lost five years ago. However, Gatsby dies in the end, and Daisy never accepts Gatsby’s love. This affects the validity of money, proving happiness in any way. Moreover, Daisy’s personification as a character is a model of someone who is born into the American Dream due to the fact that she was born in America and therefore has high status and opportunities for money. However, Daisy ends up unhappy since she has no dream to strive for. (Source A) In other words, Daisy as a character reveals that being born into a life of perfect status is not something that people should dream about. Being born into a life of perfect status and money makes you susceptible to living a life of boredom when there is nothing to strive for. Instead, you are born with your life finished. This matters due to its contrast with Myrtle, another …show more content…
Sources reveal that “Median per capita income has been flat since about 2000, adjusted for inflation. All right, so is it better off getting a big house with a white picket fence? Few of us are doing that. Nearly five million people lost their homes in the Great Recession, and even more of us sobered up about the lengths we were willing to go -- or be tricked into going, in many predatory cases -- to hold that deed. Home-ownership rates are at their lowest since 1995.” (Source B) This indicates that the American Dream is negative even if most people perceive it as positive. As seen in our current economy, The American Dream is causing the American economy to decrease over time, especially seen in the Gatsby economy built around bootleggers. This affects people who trust the American Dream and their devotion to moving to America. Source B suggests that “The nine-to-five no longer works for anyone. Punch clocks are becoming obsolete, as are career ladders. Whole industries are being born and dying every day. It's all nonlinear from here. So we need to stop asking kids, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" and start asking them, "How do you want to be when you grow up?” ” In other words, 9-5 jobs are not working for Americans, and nor do careers for America. Americans should focus less on jobs and more on the